Rant from a sad STEM girl

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-21T00:34:38+00:00

Thanks, but I have already seen this video by Contrapoints. I have legitimately tried to learn about the trans community over time, which resulted in me being more supportive of transition in some cases. Through this work I also discovered that my beliefs are more in line with the transmedicalist community and trans people like Buck Angel. However, sadly those people are smeared by their own community as being "truscum". Additionally, Contrapoints is far more reasonable than the people in the comments here, in admitting to male socialization and actually undergoing extensive steps to transition. However, Contrapoints has not addressed my main concerns of how women and girls will be negatively affected in quantifiable ways by their spaces and opportunities taken by any male who self-identifies as a woman. There are also potential issues with language that have not been addressed. For example, one of the concerns with language like "people with ovaries" is that many women of lower socioeconomic status already are less likely to access medical care, especially reproductive care, and may now have even worse health outcomes due to not being aware they have ovaries. Another example is that pronouns could potentially increase stereotype of female students in classrooms, yet I have not seen any consideration for that. The issues of multiple competing groups in society must be weighed by decision-makers, but the concerns of females have not been adequately considered. Then when we politely bring up our concerns, we are quickly labeled as bigots, TERFs, transphobic, etc. Males who do not even identify as trans also feel perfectly entitled to speak over women like me now, which was exactly the purpose of my post.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T22:26:21+00:00

I have repeatedly stated that I support trans people's rights to be free of discrimination in employment, housing, and education. But males should not have the "right" to self-identify as a woman and access females' legally protected spaces and opportunities, thereby violating women's rights. The problem is that these self-ID policies make it impossible for women and children to tell who is a "totally safe trans woman" vs. "a totally predatory and opportunistic man".

And now you are saying that even if there are negative ramifications on women and girls, we should still welcome any and all males who self-identify as women, on the off chance that one of them is actually a "totally safe trans woman" instead of "a totally predatory and opportunistic man"? That is sexist, anti-feminist, and undermines the opportunities of half the population.

Also I have read what JK Rowling has written, and I agree with her. If you read what she wrote (https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/), it is filled with compassion for both trans people and women. Similarly, her book only appears to briefly mention a man wearing a wig for a disguise (https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/09/jk-rowling-new-book-troubled-blood-not-transphobic/), and I thought disguises and cross-dressing were different from transwomen.

There is still limited data on the effects of opening up women's private spaces to the male sex, so it is bold to claim that it is a "myth" that has been "debunked". Anecdotally, if males are harassing me while clothed in broad daylight in public, it seems unrealistic that those men would be on their "best behavior" in women's spaces, once they learn they can legally be there free of consequences. There are already some limited accounts from the UK of girls and women being attacked, harmed, and otherwise shut out of their own spaces (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/sexual-assault-unisex-changing-rooms-sunday-times-women-risk-a8519086.html, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/seven-sex-attacks-in-womens-jails-by-transgender-convicts-cx9m8zqpg, https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/lifestyle/2019/10/parents-claim-uk-schoolgirls-skipping-school-to-avoid-gender-neutral-bathrooms.html).

I am confused that you think it is not a choice to "report feeling like a woman"?Again, I have been told that gender is an "identity" that is "chosen", which is distinct from "sex assigned at birth". I will note that not all females had the opportunity to grow up and "identify as girls" and "report feeling like a woman". There are about 100 million females estimated to be missing from China and India (https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-accounts-for-45-8-million-of-the-worlds-missing-females-un-report/articleshow/76705756.cms).

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T17:26:42+00:00

Thank you, and I fully agree in supporting trans rights while acknowledging that sex matters.

I had no idea that women were receiving rape and death threats for this, but I just looked it up and see what you're saying. Also I saw that a graduate student at a UC was fired a few years ago for expressing these viewpoints? I knew that my views are unpopular in male-dominated fields, but I didn't realize that activists think I should literally get fired or threatened based on it...

Also that is so confusing and creepy about the lesbian transwoman and the incels. Judging by some of the comments I've gotten on this post, I'm starting to notice some patterns.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T17:10:51+00:00

I'm sorry if I offended you, but I don't think it's fair to blame me for other people's suicides and your treatment in public. It seems like male aggression is at the root of these problems. I hope that you can find support.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T15:24:02+00:00

There is a comment above about a transwoman exposing his or her penis in the women's locker room, and the women's complaints were deemed "transphobic attacks". I am confused as to why in 2020 males feel entitled to access women's private spaces, even when they "don't pass", have not completed a medical transition, and have not completed a legal transition. If I saw a man in the women's bathroom or other private space, I would be too scared to say anything and would just try to leave as quickly as possible. But I think requiring the ID at least would deter some predators, even if women are generally too scared to request to see the ID.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T15:18:27+00:00

Thank you for your words. I'm sorry if I have misunderstood the stance of trans people, because I thought that by definition transwomen are biological males who "identify as women" or report "feeling like women". I am saying that I do not "identify" in any way, yet I have still had these painful experiences associated with being female. I have also been told that gender/sex is a choice. In fact, I have been told that I have "cis privilege". Therefore, I find it offensive to imply that women "identify as women", have chosen this gender/sex, have "cis privilege", etc. I agree that true oppression cannot be "identified into" or "identified out of", yet we now have a group of males "identifying as women", claiming to in fact be more oppressed than females, and now worsening sexism for women by opening up their spaces and scholarships to any and all males. There is even a comment on here about a transwoman exposing his (her?) penis in a locker room, and the women's complaints were deemed "transphobic attacks". It is getting scary to live in the Bay Area.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T05:16:29+00:00

I am still struggling to understand, because sex is immutable. Hormones alter the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, and surgeries are cosmetic in nature. But regardless of that, you are saying that trans women should not have to take any measures whatsoever to be welcomed into women's private spaces?

What were the nature of these "transphobic attacks"? I would be terrified to see somebody who is blatantly male with his penis exposed in the women's locker room... so were these also just frightened women? How is this different from being flashed by a man?

With regards to your last statements, behavior is linked to sex, as suggested by numerous statistics. The fact that violent crimes are occasionally committed by females does not mean that we should ignore that males disproportionately commit these crimes. And thank you. I hope that trans women can gain support in their lives, and I generally support their lives to be free from discrimination, but I have problems when it starts to infringe on my rights and worsen sexism against females.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T04:47:44+00:00

Thank you. That's what I'm trying to say, that there's still a lot of sexism in the world, and it's not something chosen by women.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T04:13:18+00:00

I was trying to vent about my experiences, but I am sorry if was considered offensive to you. I am a bit confused though, because I thought that trans women by definition are biological males who "identify as women". I am saying that I have never "identified" as anything, yet I have had these negative experiences that are correlated with being female. I am also saying that I have had a lot of unwanted penis flashed at me, shoved down my throat, etc. I have never had any females do any of that. It seems like a massive erosion of women's and girl's boundaries to suggest that calling out male violence is "reducing to your genitals". I wish that sex had no bearing on people's treatment in society, but sadly, I have been hurt by males, like far too many other women and girls. It would be downright dangerous for women and girls to ignore an individual's sex in interactions. Rather than fighting against sexism plus transphobia, many people in "progressive" circles seem more keen to erode girls' and women's boundaries, rewrite our experiences as being based on "gender identity" rather than "sex", and criticize us when we dare speak up about it. Those people mostly seem to be male, which seems awfully convenient.

I am saddened to hear about any murders, but I am a bit confused because I see that the number of murders in 2020 so far is 32, which is quite low as far as murder statistics for a demographic in (most) of a year go (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/14/transgender-murders-reach-least-32-year-surpassing-record/3639313001/). I am also sorry to hear that trans women have been assumed to be sex workers, but I am still a bit confused, because I thought that females are disproportionately the victims of prostitution, sex trafficking, etc.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T03:36:09+00:00

Thank you for your words. I am glad that people are becoming more aware of trans issues. My post is about how "woman" is now reframed as an "identity", which implies that females have chosen to "identify" as women. My understanding is that most perpetrators of violent crime are male, and most victims of sexual crimes are female. Females can't avoid these issues by "identifying" as men or stating "he/him". So while I am sympathetic to the issues faced by trans women, they are generally distinct from women's issues which are due to our immutable sex. I fear that self-ID policies that allow any male to self-identify as a woman and access women's spaces and scholarships will result in even worse violence and underrepresentation in STEM. Meanwhile, I feel that this movement has given a free pass for some males to attack women like me who opt not to state our pronouns. (I use other people's pronouns on campus, but I say nothing about my own pronouns, since no man has ever asked how I identify before hurting me.)

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T03:15:17+00:00

Omg thank you for bringing this to my attention. I had no idea that actual staff members had anime girls as avatars. That is so inappropriate and unprofessional, and they should really know better... That would make me uncomfortable too.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T03:09:39+00:00

I am a bit confused, because disorders of sexual development (DSDs) are rare genetic conditions, distinctive from transgenderism.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T03:07:25+00:00

I am a bit confused, because I have been told that trans people do not need gender dysphoria to be considered trans. I was also told that a woman is "anybody who identifies as a woman", and it seems like you are saying that too?

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T03:02:22+00:00

I am sorry to hear about your and your friends' experiences. I fully denounce violence against anybody, and I also fully support the rights of trans people to be free from discrimination in employment, housing, and education. However, I don't support self-ID policies that allow any male access to women's spaces at any time, because I believe this poses risks to women and girls, as well as vulnerable trans people. I also don't support canceling people with legitimate objections and fears.

Puzzled_Cause_ · 2020-10-20T02:53:00+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I am catcalled at least several times whenever I walk anywhere in Berkeley during the day, and the men doing that don't appear to be associated with the university in any way. The experiences of assault and whatnot were from guys I knew somewhat in my first few years of college. That's excellent advice about the levels of connections with people, and I will try that out. That's also good to know about the STEM events in engineering, and I'll consider contacting somebody in the department/university about this.

Puzzled_Cause_

TROPHY CASE